COUNTY CO-CONTRACTS WITH WINNESHIEK COUNTY FOR CPC; INSURANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS HEALTH CARE PROVIDER CONTRACT

Paramount among issues for discussion at recent Allamakee County Board of Supervisors meetings has been a final decision on the employee health insurance provider.
Though bids were let several weeks ago, bid comparisons and comprehensive discussion between the board and its insurance advisory committee has delayed a final decision until recently.
Specifically, bids were submitted by Leschensky Insurance Agency in cooperation with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the county's current carrier, and Epoch, a Kansas-based company, in cooperation with the CARE Provider Network.
Supervisors, in letting the bids, asked insurance companies to draft a plan comparable to that currently offered to employees, which includes a $100 single, $200 family deductible with a $500/$1000 out-of-pocket maximum. Under the current plan, the $1000 out-of-pocket maximum is then spent down to a $500 family out-of-pocket maximum through a side-fund established by the county, into which a portion of each employee’s monthly premium is paid.
Premiums for single employees, as set forth in the current plan, are paid in full by the county and amount to $184.64. A total of $319.44 is paid towards the monthly premiums for the family, employee with spouse, and employee with child(ren) policies, with the remainder the responsibility of the county employee.
After extensive discussion, the insurance committee ultimately recommended that, upon expiration, the county consider terminating their contract with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the current insurance provider, and establishing an agreement with Epoch, the company that submitted the lowest overall bid.
The new plan would include the same coverage as is currently offered, $100/200 deductible with $500/$500 out-of-pocket maximum without the use of a side fund. The single plan will increase from the current $184.64 to $218.31; however, this figure represents less of an increase than would be experienced under the current plan for the upcoming year, which would raise to $224.80 for a single employee. The county will continue to pay the entire monthly premium under the single plan.
Premiums for all other plans, too, will change with the upcoming year should the board opt to contract with Epoch, specifically from $515.35 to $608.76 for family; $428.47 to $418.05 for employee with spouse; and $442.65 to $363.59 for employee with child(ren). All rate changes with Epoch, again, were favorable in comparison to those the county would experience with the current carrier. The county will pay $353.11 towards these monthly premiums, with the remainder paid by the individual employees.
Again, no side fund would be necessary with the Epoch plan, whereas the Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan showed an increase in premiums in all categories, while a side fund would still need to be maintained for the $500/$500 out-of-pocket maximum.
The payment method for prescription drugs, with the Epoch plan, would also improve as employees would only be required to pay 10% of the cost up front, where they are now required to pay the full amount of the prescription in expectation of a 90% refund from the insurance provider.
The preferred provider network, too, is comparable or better than that offered in the current plan, providing favorable benefits to the majority of the area's major hospitals and all local facilities.
The board made no formal decision, but agreed to consider the insurance committee’s recommendation to contract with Epoch.
In other discussion, the board signed a letter, addressed to USDA Rural Development, in support of a cooperative effort of HAWC Empowerment/Decat and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission in administering a revolving loan fund to be used for in-home child care providers in Allamakee, Winneshiek, Howard, Clayton and Fayette counties. The loan fund will also benefit area child care centers and preschools.
Through the fund, loans of $1,500 to $5,000 will assist persons in necessary home improvements to address safety and child needs to establish additional registered day care facilities.
A resolution was passed approving temporary road closure for construction or maintenance purposes on portions of the following roads: Blazing Star Drive, Penny Springs Road, Crow Hill Road, Ryan Hill Road, Old Mission Drive, Clear Creek Drive, and Gruber Ridge Road.
During construction, the roads will be clearly marked with barricades and signs stating “Road Closed.” Persons will not be denied access to their personal properties or residences.
Moving on, supervisor Kathy Campbell signed a request for review by the Historic Preservation Commission of Turner Hall, located at 119 E. Greene Street in Postville, for eligibility on the National Register.
According to the request, the site is significant in that it is a manifestation of the German Turn Verein movement. In addition, the building signifies the important role that German-Americans played in the history and development of Postville and is intertwined, in many ways, with Postville’s Dr. John Mott, 1946 Nobel Prize winner.
For the past several weeks, Allamakee County has been in negotiation with Winneshiek County to co-contract central point coordinator Jan Heikes to replace the county’s former CPC, Susie Myers. A 28E agreement has been formally approved by both county boards of supervisors as follows:
Each county is authorized to request assistance from the CPC in administering programs that fall under their respective county health budgets, each county being responsible for the costs associated with assisting their respective clients; a salary for CPC services will be agreed upon by both boards and paid on a 50/50 basis, including benefits, mileage, conference fees and other costs approved through the joint agreement; each county will provide necessary office space, support and supplies; and any liability expenses will be paid on a 50/50 basis. The agreement was effective May 22, 2000, and will continue until Dec. 31, 2000, at which time it can be reviewed and reinstated.
A fireworks permit was granted to William Moore of Lansing approving a May 28 fireworks display on his personal property for the purpose of a graduation party.
A revolving loan fund application, administered through Allamakee County Economic Development, was approved for NE Iowa Resort and Rental in the amount of $18,000, payable via a three-year note.
Supervisors visited the Headstart site, adjacent to West Elementary in Waukon, for a construction update. In addition, as administrator of a state Community Development Block Grant to fund the building project, the board signed and submitted a request for reimbursement for $68,226. According to the request, construction progress is 40% complete. The total CDBG grant budget is $300,000, for which a total of $119,919 has been requested to date.
An Adopt-a-Highway application submitted by the Knights of Columbus, St. George Council #12244, was approved. Specifically, the applicants will be responsible for litter removal beginning at the Power Plant on X52 (Great River Road) and continuing southerly for two miles.
A bid letting date of June 12 at 8:45 a.m. was approved for the county fuel contract. Specifications and proposal forms can be obtained at the Allamakee County engineer’s office prior to that date.
And finally, three county employees were approved for hire. The first was Neal Corwin as a temporary part-time handyman for the county secondary roads department. His hire was effective May 15 at $6 per hour.
In the same department, LeAnn Homewood was hired as a temporary part-time scale person. She became a county employee effective May 22 at a rate of $5.50 per hour.
And to replace Sue Kuehnke, second deputy to the auditor for slightly over two years, Audrey Peterson was hired. She began work full-time at a rate of $7.25 per hour, effective May 30.